A versatile high voltage nano- and sub-nanosecond pulse generator

High-voltage (HV) ultrashort pulse technologies have found many applications in areas such as medicine, biology, food processing, environmental science and defense. Some applications are dependent on the pulse parameters such as duration, amplitude, shape, as well as the number of pulses applied and the frequency rate. Generators that can produce powerful electrical pulses with adjustable duration, amplitude and shape are convenient but still unusual. In this paper, we present and characterize a robust and versatile generator built on the frozen wave generator concept using photoconductive semiconductor switches. The results show that the generator can produce pulses of various shapes, peak-to-peak amplitudes up to 13.1 kV, maximum amplitudes of 6.9 kV and with durations in the nanosecond and subnanosecond range. Intense subnanosecond pulses have recently gained attention due to their potential ability to reach cells interior.